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Tight State Budgets Reveal Governors' True Pre-K Colors
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In spite of the significant economic challenges faced by states this year, Pre-K Now's newest report, "Leadership Matters," reveals that governors' FY09 proposals for pre-k would bring total state funding to $5.2 billion—a 5.5 percent increase over last year. Nearly 60,000 more three and four year olds across the country would have access to pre-k programs, if legislatures approve these proposals.
Additional report findings include:
- The commitment to pre-k is bipartisan; both Republican and Democratic governors proposed pre-k funding increases.
- For the first time in four years, the number of governors recommending increases in pre-k funding declined.
- Sixteen governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C., proposed a total of $261 million in increases for pre-k programs.
Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee, one of the elected officials lauded in "Leadership Matters," joined Pre-K Now executive director Libby Dogget to release the report at a Nashville-area pre-k center. "It's sometimes an uphill political battle fighting for pre-k. But it's important because we know that, dollar for dollar, pre-k is the single best investment we can make in our kids' future."
 read the full press release
 download "Leadership Matters"
get state-by-state highlights
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| Today in Pre-K |
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Economists Push for Smart Educational Spending
Ever wonder about the relationship between the price and quality of pre-k programs
or the most cost effective ways to increase our country's graduation rate? So did economists Henry Levin and Clive Belfield, founders of Columbia University's Teachers College Center for Benefit-Cost Studies of Education (CBCSE). Launched last year to determine which alternative educational policies and interventions produce the greatest overall returns, CBCSE's studies have managed to effectively quantify the dollars states and the nation as a whole are losing by not investing in our children's education.  read more
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Rogue Comments
in Rhode Island
Rhode Island, one of two Northeastern states without a state-funded pre-k program, is not getting the gubernatorial leadership it needs to escape the pre-k wilderness. This session, Gov. Don Carcieri proposed to eliminate state funding for Head Start and almost 15 percent of available slots with it. Teachers and children protested at the capitol last week, only to hear the governor call the program "a waste of money," dismissing the program's effectiveness. What blindsided Head Start supporters is that the governor could not back up his assertions. Rep. Eileen S. Naughton told the Providence Journal, "I'm outraged. With just a simple Google search and a couple of clicks, there is tremendous data about [Head Start’s successes]." Gov. Carcieri and you can read more about the benefits of Head Start here. |
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A Tale of Two Governors
Maryland and Virginia are dealing with tight budgets. While each is taking a different approach to pre-k expansion, success in both states hinges on gubernatorial leadership. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine made his pre-k proposal a budget priority, discussing the issue at every critical turn. The divided Virginia legislature compromised with the governor last week, providing the Virginia Preschool Initiative with an additional $22 million to serve more children and to increase per-child funding. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley made no pre-k proposals this session. Legislators are moving a bill to make children in military families eligible for the state pre-k program. The bill's fate is uncertain, but Gov. O'Malley would improve the odds for military families by emulating the vocal pre-k call voiced across the Potomac. |
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Yesterday in Pre-K
Looking for a news item that was here yesterday but is gone today? Click here |
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